Personal info
Known for
Cinematographer
Gender
Male
Birthday
04 November
Location
New Jersey, United States
Edit pageFrederick Elmes
Biography
Frederick Elmes is an acclaimed American cinematographer celebrated for his distinctive visual style and long-standing collaborations with some of cinema’s most visionary directors. Born on November 4, 1946, in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Elmes developed an early interest in photography and storytelling through images, which would later define his remarkable career in film.
Elmes studied photography and film at the Rochester Institute of Technology before earning a Master of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. While at NYU, he met director David Lynch, beginning a creative partnership that would shape both of their careers.
Elmes first gained attention for his work on Lynch’s surreal debut feature Eraserhead (1977), a film renowned for its haunting black-and-white cinematography.
He continued to collaborate with Lynch on Blue Velvet (1986) and Wild at Heart (1990), both of which earned critical acclaim for their striking visual compositions and atmospheric lighting.
Throughout his career, Elmes has demonstrated remarkable versatility, working with a wide range of directors and genres. His filmography includes notable collaborations with Ang Lee on The Ice Storm (1997) and Ride with the Devil (1999), as well as with Jim Jarmusch on Night on Earth (1991) and Broken Flowers (2005).
His ability to craft images that serve the emotional and narrative tone of each film has made him one of the most respected cinematographers in the industry.
